Here in the States, the Fourth of July (and the weeks surrounding) is a high anxiety time for pets — thanks to the fireworks. They’ve been setting off fireworks in my neighborhood for at least a week now, with the big day itself still to come.
My dogs have been relatively mellow about the firecrackers so far — despite a bad experience in the past where they were thrown at us while we were walking. Perked ears, a little bit of barking and running to the windows… definitely not as bad as it has been.
But for some pets, fireworks create high anxiety. A pet in a state of extreme anxiety may shiver or shake, whine or cry, hide, refuse food, or become unresponsive. Reactions can vary from pet to pet.
What can you do to help? If your pet only experiences anxiety periodically and you know what triggers it, here are some things to try:
- Avoid the trigger. If fireworks are the problem, don’t take your pets to the local display. Keep them safe inside where the noise and light will be muffled.
- Provide distractions. Some pets will respond to a special treat or toy. Some won’t, especially if they’re ultra-upset by whatever is going on. Try putting a close-fitting shirt on your pet — the sensation of cloth against their fur can work as a great distraction.
- Drown out the sound. Turn the TV or radio on loud enough that you can’t hear the anxiety trigger. Close the drapes if flashing lights (like lightning or fireworks) are making your dog upset.
A friend of mine writes the Brown Dog Blog about her rescued family (which consists of three brown dogs and one black and white dog at the moment). Recently, she posted about one of the brown dogs and his ongoing struggle with high anxiety. They’re working on an eleven step plan to help reduce anxiety, using a combination of medication, behavior modification, and lifestyle changes.